AN ACT
Relating to economic development related projects of regional or state-wide
significance; adding new sections to chapter 36.70A RCW; adding a new section
to chapter 35.63 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35A.63 RCW; adding a new
section to chapter 36.70 RCW; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE
OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. A new
section is added to chapter 36.70A RCW to read as follows:
Counties
and cities, as part of their planning processes, may identify economic
development related projects of regional or state significance. When a county
or city identifies a project, the county or city may request that county-wide
planning policies address the project and may seek to coordinate planning for
this project on a regional basis when appropriate. The county or city may seek
state technical assistance to plan for the project, including development of a
common data base, and may seek state financial assistance to help offset the
impacts of the project. The effects of the economic development related
project of regional or state significance that should be addressed include
infrastructure, transportation, and public facilities necessitated by the
project.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. A new
section is added to chapter 35.63 RCW to read as follows:
Counties
and cities, as part of their planning process, may identify economic
development-related projects of regional or state significance. When a county
or city identifies a project, the county or city may seek to coordinate
planning for this project on a regional basis when appropriate. The county or
city may seek state technical assistance to plan for the project, including
development of a common data base, and may seek state financial assistance to
help offset the impacts of the project. The effects of the economic
development-related project of regional or state significance that should be
addressed include infrastructure, transportation, and public facilities
necessitated by the project.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section
is added to chapter 35A.63 RCW to read as follows:
Cities,
as part of their planning process, may identify economic development-related
projects of regional or state significance. When a city identifies a project,
the city may seek to coordinate planning for this project on a regional basis
when appropriate. The city may seek state technical assistance to plan for the
project, including development of a common data base, and may seek state
financial assistance to help offset the impacts of the project. The effects of
the economic development-related project of regional or state significance that
should be addressed include infrastructure, transportation, and public
facilities necessitated by the project.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 4. A new
section is added to chapter 36.70 RCW to read as follows:
Counties,
as part of their planning process, may identify economic development-related
projects of regional and state significance. When a county identifies a
project, the county may seek to coordinate planning for this project on a
regional basis when appropriate. The county may seek state technical
assistance to plan for the project, including development of a common data
base, and may seek state financial assistance to help offset the impacts of the
project. The effects of the economic development-related project of regional
or state significance that should be addressed include infrastructure,
transportation, and public facilities necessitated by the project.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 5. A new
section is added to chapter 36.70A RCW to read as follows:
A
county required or choosing to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 may establish, in
consultation with cities, a process for reviewing proposals to authorize siting
of major industrial developments outside urban growth areas.
(1)
"Major industrial development" means a master planned location for a
specific manufacturing, industrial, or commercial business that: (a) Requires
a parcel of land devoid of critical areas and so large that no suitable parcels
are available within an urban growth area; or (b) is a natural resource-based
industry requiring a location near agricultural land, forest land, or mineral
resource land upon which it is dependent. The major industrial development
shall not be for the purpose of retail shopping developments.
(2) A
major industrial development may be approved outside an urban growth area in a
county planning under this chapter if criteria including, but not limited to
the following, are met:
(a)
New infrastructure is provided for and impact fees are established consistent
with the requirements of RCW 82.02.060;
(b)
Transit-oriented site planning and traffic demand management programs are
implemented;
(c)
Buffers are provided between the major industrial development and adjacent
nonurban areas;
(d)
Environmental protection including air and water quality has been addressed and
provided for;
(e)
Development regulations are established to ensure that urban growth will not
occur in adjacent nonurban areas;
(f)
Provision is made to mitigate adverse impacts on designated agricultural lands,
forest lands, and mineral resource lands;
(g)
The plan for the major industrial development is consistent with the county's
development regulations established for protection of critical areas; and
(h)
The county has determined and entered findings that land suitable to site the
major industrial development is unavailable within the urban growth area.
Priority shall be given to applications for sites that are adjacent to or in
close proximity to the urban growth area.
(3)
Final approval of an application for a major industrial development may be
considered an adopted amendment to the comprehensive plan adopted pursuant to
RCW 36.70A.070 designating the major industrial development site on the land
use map as an urban growth area.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 6. This
act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or
safety, or support of the state government and its existing public
institutions, and shall take effect immediately.
